ite abruptly. When he first said that
he wished to speak to her, she had got up from her chair to welcome
him, for she dearly loved to have him there. There was nothing
she liked better than having him to herself when he was in a soft
brotherly humour; and then she would interest herself about his
horse, and his dogs, and his gun, and predict his life for him,
sending him up as a peer to Parliament, and giving him a noble wife,
and promising him that he should be such a Desmond as would redeem
all the family from their distresses. But now as he rapidly brought
out his words, she found that on this day her prophecies must regard
herself chiefly.

"Surely, Patrick, it is easy enough to understand me," she said.

"Well, I don't know; I don't in the least mean to find fault with
you."

"I am glad of that, dearest," she said, laying her hand upon his arm.

"But my mother says one thing, and you another, and Owen another; and
I myself, I hardly know what to say."

"Look here, Patrick, it is simply this: I became engaged to Herbert
with my mother's sanction and yours; and now--"

"Stop a moment," said the impetuous boy, "and do not pledge yourself
to anything till you have heard me. I know that you are cut to the
heart about Herbert Fitzgerald losing his property."

"No, indeed; not at all cut to the heart; that is as regards myself."

"I don't mean as regards yourself; I mean as regards him. I have
heard you say over and over again that it is a piteous thing that he
should be so treated. Have I not?"

"Yes, I have said that, and I think so."

"And I think that most of your great--great--great love for him, if
you will, comes from that sort of feeling."

"But, Patrick, it came long before."

"Dear Clara, do listen to me, will you? You may at any rate do as
much as that for me." And then Clara stood perfectly mute, looking
into his handsome face as he continued to rattle out his words at
her.

"Now if you please, Clara, you may have the means of giving back to
him all his property, every shilling that he ever had, or expected
to have. Owen Fitzgerald,--who certainly is the finest fellow that
ever I came across in all my life, or ever shall, if I live to five
hundred,--says that he will make over every acre of Castle Richmond
back to his cousin Herbert if--" Oh, my lord, my lord, what a scheme
is this you are concocting to entrap your sister! Owen Fitzgerald
inserted no "if," as you are well aware! "If," he cont